Wire-stretcher.



1. w. DEAN. I WIRE STRETCHER.- APPLICATION FILED DEC-23. l 9i6.

1,234,297. Patented July 24, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1;

.l. W. DEA N.

WIRE STRETCHER- APPLlCATION FILED nEc.2s,19 ls'.

1,234,297. Patented July 24, 1917,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' scribed and UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE.

JOHN wILLIAivI DEAN, or CRAGFORD, ALABAMA.

' WIRE-STRETCHER.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, JOHN WILLIAM DEAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gragford, in the county of Clay and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relatesto certain new and V useful improvements in wire stretchers.

An object of the present invention is to produce a simpl constructed device for manipulating bar ed, slick, mesh, or other forms of wire when adapting it to the use desired, and to that end comprises a pair of arms pivotally connected at one end, each of said arms being provided with a clamp or dog reversibly positioned therein and adapted to'coact with the base of a channel way for gripping the wire in uniform aliiiement irrespective of the direction of pul Another object of this invention is the production of a light and durable wire stretcher including pivotally connected arms, each of said arms being formed of detachable members and having engaging prongs arranged upon the ends and sides of said arms, and adapted for use whether the arms of the stretcher be used as a hinged pulling unit or separated and used as single stretching elements.

A further object of this invention is the production of a stretching apparatus including a gang element provided with a pluralit of fastening devices to which the materia to be stretched is attached, the said gang element being adapted to be connected with-the clamps of the stretching apparatus and operable therethrough.

The invention further consists in the combination and arrangement of the several elements of construction hereinafter depointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, 7 Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved wire stretcher. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a view of my stretcher, illustrating the manner in which two 'free ends of wire are clamped therein for drawing them together.

Fig. 4 is a view showing the position in which the stretcher is placed when stretching a single 'wire, the free end of. the wire passing beneath both clamping dogs for al- -engaging a wire positioned on the stretcher detached, and the Specification of Letters Patent. Patented July 24, 1917. Application filed December 23, 1916.

Serial No. 138,652.

ternately holdin and gripping the wire in progressively pulling it.

ig. 5 is a view of the stretcher illustrating the manner in which the stretcher is applied to a wire to remove bent or kinked portions.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged .detail view, partly in section, of one of the clamps or dogs base of the channelway provided in the arm of the stretcher.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of one arm of the gang element provided with fastening devices, shown as applied to a mesh wire for stretching the same uniformly. 1

Fig. 8 is a modified form of my stretcher in which the handles are made of wood and fitted wit-h hinge and clamping elements of special construction.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view through one of the clamping elements as secured to a wooden arm, and V Fig. 10 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating the form of clamping element shown in Fig. 8.

The present invention has been designed for use in connection with stretching wire in the building of fences andv the like, but it will be understood that it is equally useful' in placing telegraphic wires, guy and rigging network, and the like.

Referring to the drawings, and more es pecially to Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, the stretching device 1 comprises a pair of arms 2 and 3 pivotally connected at 4 by a detachable connection. The construction of stretcher shown in the figures just mentioned is of suitable metal having light and durable qualities. i

The'arms 2 and 3 are formed of outer hollow sections 5 and inner hollow sections 6. These sections are provided with suitable screw-threads, as shown, adapted to be fitted tion 9' and pivoted clamps or dogs 10.- The clamps or dogs 10 are pivoted at 11 and are i adapted to abut against the base of the slotted or channel portion 1 2. These clamps are reversible, that is to say, they can be swung about their pivots clearing the opposite base or end wall 13 of the slotted portion.

- As shown, these clamps or dogscannot 17 to allow the wire to be placed upon the base 12 and permit either face of the clamp or dog to rest thereon depending upon the direction of pull desired.

'The advantage of these reversible clamps can be readily seen, in that the aline ment of the wire, when gripped for stretching, is uniformly straight, irrespective of the direction in which the wire is to be drawn.

The pivotal members into which the hollow arms 6 are threaded, are indicated at 18 and 19, and, as shown, comprise lug and ear connections 20, the former being carried by the pivotal member 18 and the latter being provided on the member 19.

Groups of engaging prongs 21 and 22 are formed on the members 18 and 19 and serve the purpose of firmly positioning the stretching deviceagainst or into a suitable object during the stretching operation. The angle indicated at'23 formed between these two groups of prongs, is found to be highly useful in' effecting lateral or corner manipulations, as will be readily understood.

In Fig. 4: of the drawings the clampsor dogs 10 have been positioned to effect a pulling of the wire in the direction indicated by the arrow, that is to say, the engaging face 15 is swung against the wire gripping it 86- curely against the base 12 of'the channel or slotted portion (see Fig. 6). Movement of the arm 3v in Fig. 4:, in the, direction of the arrow, tends to firmly grip the wire between the face 15 and the channel base 12'until the distance of stretching has been reached,

.or until a new hold upon the wire isdesired.

In eflecting a new, hold ,or gripping of. the wire, the clamp or dog 10 of the element. 7 is swung againstthe wire, and the clamp or dog .10 of the element 8 is released, atwhich time the arm 3 is swungin the directionof the arrow indicated in dotted-lines in Fig.

#hto take a new hold on the wire.

'A considerable stretching distance can be I coveredby the alternate use of theseclamping dogs, as will be readily understood.

In the setting of the clamps, as shown in Fig. 3 ofthe drawings, it willbe. seenthat the movement of, the arms 2 and 3toward each other, as indicated by the arrows, will removing of distorted or kinked portions.

The stretching device as shown in'Fig. 7 of the drawings comprises the stretching unit, or a single arm thereof (as shown), and a gang connecting element 24:. This connecting member 24 includes a bar 25 to which is secured a plurality of fastening hooks 26. These hooks 26 are preferably of the snap type and are spaced and used according to the relative spacing of the mesh wire which is being stretched. Connecting cords 27 extend from the bar at points approximately in line with the fastening means, to. a common connection 28, from which latter a flexible connecting member extends to be. gripped by the clamps or dogs 10 of the stretching device. As will be apparent, this form of stretching apparatus is highly useful in connection with the positioning of all kinds of mesh wire requiring a uniform pull.

In the modified form of stretcher shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10 of the. drawings, the arms. 2 and 3? are formed of single pieces of material, preferably wood. These arms are cut away intermediate their ends to form the slotted portions 9 Fitted within these slotted portions at one end thereof are me bers 30. These members are preferablyv of malleable. or cast metal and are held in place by the, screws 31,

pair. is obtained; In thisform thepivotal connection P is also made of cast onmalleable metal, and embodies like features of economy in repair and production.

While I have shown anddescribed a form of my inven io e t kno n. o. me a the present, time, it will be understood that varii s other o ms; a ng ments, &. i construction and manufacture may braresorted to without departing from the scope of my nve ti 1 Erom h oregoing- .itwillho bvi usth a. readi y. edand i paot tr tching device ha h-s P duced,o p b o ii fioo 13o ing many stretching operations in an eflicient and desirable manner.

What I claim is:

1. A stretching device for wire comprising pivotally connected arms, wire-gripping members located intermediate the length thereof, said gripping members consisting I of a body portion having a slotted portion therein, a wire-receivlng channelway formed in said body portion, and a clamp pivotally positioned in said slotted portion, said clamp consisting of oppositely disposed wire engaging surfaces terminating in an intermediate shoulder adapted to abut against the channel-way at either end thereof and to swing through the slotted portion at the opposite end to that of the said channel-way.

2. A stretching device for wire comprising pivotally connected arms, wire-gripping members located intermediate the length thereof, said gripping members consisting of a body portion havin a slotted portion therein, a wirereceiving formed in said body portion, a clamp pivotally positioned in said slotted portion, said clamp consisting of oppositely disposed wire engaging surfaces terminatmg in an intermediate shoulder adapted to abut a ainst the channel-way at either end there- 0? and to swing through the slotted portion at the opposite end to that of the said channel-way, and a group of angularly arranged engaging prongs carried by said arms for holding the stretching device in position.

3. A stretching device for wire comprising pivotally connected arms, wire-gripping members located intermediate the length thereof, said gripping members consisting of a body portion having a slotted portion channel way therein, a wire-receiving channel-way formed in said body portion, and a pivoted clamp having oppositely arranged wire-engaging faces terminating in an intermediate shoulder adapted to abut against the channel-way at either end thereof.

4. A wire stretching device comprising a pair of pivotally connected arms formed of detachable sections, wire gripping members secured to said sections intermediate the length of the'said arms, said gripping members consisting of a body portion having a slotted part therein and a cut-away portion leading to the slotted part, a wire receiving channel-way formed in said body portion, and a clamp having oppositely arranged wire-engaging faces terminating in an lntermediate shoulder adapted, to abut against the channel-way at either end thereof and to swing through the slotted part at the opposite end to that of the said channel-way.

5. A stretching device for wire comprising a wire gripping member having a slotted portion therein, a wire receiving channel-way in said gripping member, and a clamp positioned in said slotted portion consisting of oppositely disposed wire engaging surfaces terminating in an intermediate shoulder and adapted to abut against the channel-way at either end thereof and to swing through the slotted portion at the opposite end to that of the said channelway.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JNQ. WILLIAM DEAN.

Witnesses:

A. NYE VAN VLEGK, JAMES F. Frrz GIBBON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

